National Nutrition Month

by Michelle Sauberzweig

In the late twentieth century, food was found to be an important healing force. In fact, food acts as a foundation of medicine. Food affects all systems of the body and if diet is used correctly for prevention and treatment you will find that medication is used less frequently if at all.

Did you know that on a daily basis the average American obtains 20% of their calories from sugar alone? That is 150lbs per year! Are you aware that two thirds of all deaths are directly affected by improper diet and poor eating habits? These are startling facts but the undeniable truth. Obesity rates are skyrocketing, autoimmune diseases are on the rise and medicinal and surgical procedures are at an all- time high. This increase in disease can be explained very simply – poor diet.

What we need is higher quality foods and better food choices. We need to limit those choices that poison our body and the world around us. Instead, we need to trust in cleaner, healthier alternatives that support the body’s natural balance.

Here are some suggestions to assist you in changing your diet.

 Eat fruits and vegetables that are in season – Foods in season are cheaper and agree with the current season which our bodies are in synch with, therefore foods are easier to digest Buy locally as much as possible – This supports our local farmers, is better for the environment, keeps costs down and is always in season Limit consumption of foods containing growth hormones, food colorings, additives and preservatives – These add inflammation to the body and are hard to digest Read food labels before you buy anything If you eat beef, buy grass fed beef – Cows cannot digest corn which is most often fed to them and make them sick Use healthy alternatives to sugar, such as molasses, honey, date sugar, stevia and barley malt or brown rice syrup Eat smaller meals throughout the day - Will keep your energy and digestion at its’ strongest Incorporate protein with every meal and snack - Helps with energy Eat a warm breakfast every day - This wakes up your digestive system and boosts metabolism Try to eat foods that are warm or at room temperature - Avoid cold foods as much as possible since your body has to work harder to digest them To satisfy your sweet tooth, try naturally sweetened vegetables such as corn, carrots, beets, sweet potatoes, yams and squash Eat fruit daily – High in fiber, vitamins and antioxidants Add more green into your diet – Broccoli, kale, mustard greens, Chinese cabbage are packed with calcium, magnesium, iron, potassium, zinc and vitamins A, C, E and K Eat more at home – Try one new healthy recipe a week Be prepared - Create a menu and do your shopping for the entire week

If you would like more information or have questions, please feel free to contact Living Well Acupuncture at (740) 206-8705.